The Cheyenne are a Native American nation of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne nation is composed of two united tribes, the Sotaeo'o [no definite translation] and the Tsitsistas, which translates to "Like Hearted People". The name Cheyenne itself derives from a Sioux word meaning 'Little Cree'. Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 20th 181,196 km² 355 km 645 km 1. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 4th 381,156 km² 410 km 1,015 km 1 44°26 N to 49° N 104°2 W to 116°2 W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 44th 902,195 2. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Cheyenne language is a Native American language spoken in present-day Montana and Oklahoma, USA. It is part of the Algonquian language family. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus, the Christ, as recounted in the New Testament. ... Scabby Bull, Arapaho 1806 Arapaho camp, ca. ... The Algonquian (also Algonkian) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). ... An Atsina named Assiniboin Boy Native Americans in the United States (also known as Indians, American Indians, First Americans, Indigenous Peoples, Aboriginal Peoples, Aboriginal Americans, Amerindians, Amerinds, or Original Americans) are the indigenous peoples within the territory that is now encompassed by the continental United States and their descendants in... The Great Plains is the broad expanse of prairie which lies east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States of America and Canada, covering all or parts of the U.S. states of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota and the... The Sioux (also Dakota) are a Native American tribe. ... This article is about the indigenous people; for the American corporation, see Cree Inc. ...

During the pre-reservation era, they were allied with the Arapaho and Lakota (Sioux). They are one of the best known of the Plains tribes. The Cheyenne nation comprised ten bands, spread all over the Great Plains, from southern Colorado to the Black Hills in South Dakota. In the mid-1800's, the bands began to split, with bands choosing to remain near the Black Hills, while the other bands chose to remain near the Platte Rivers of central Colorado. Scabby Bull, Arapaho 1806 Arapaho camp, ca. ... The Lakota (IPA: ) (also Lakhota, Teton, Titonwon) are a Native American tribe. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 269 837 km² 451 km 612 km 0. ... This article is about the place in South Dakota. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 17th 199,905 km² 340 km 610 km 1. ...

Cheyenne lodges with buffalo meat drying, 1870

Currently the Northern Cheyenne live in southeast Montana on their own reservation. The Southern Cheyenne, along with the Southern Arapaho, live in central Oklahoma. Their combined population is approximately 20,000. Cheyenne lodges with buffalo meat drying, 1870 Source: lewisandclarkjournals However, according to buffalosoldier. ... Cheyenne lodges with buffalo meat drying, 1870 Source: lewisandclarkjournals However, according to buffalosoldier. ... Binomial name Bison bison Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies B. b. ...

Language

The Cheyenne of Montana and Oklahoma both speak the Cheyenne language, with only a handful of vocabulary items different between the two locations. The Cheyenne language is part of the larger Algonquian language group, and is one of the few Plains Algonquian languages to have developed tonal characteristics. The closest linguistic relatives of the Cheyenne language are Arapaho and Ojibwa (Chippewa). Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 4th 381,156 km² 410 km 1,015 km 1 44°26 N to 49° N 104°2 W to 116°2 W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 44th 902,195 2. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 20th 181,196 km² 355 km 645 km 1. ... The Cheyenne language is a Native American language spoken in present-day Montana and Oklahoma, USA. It is part of the Algonquian language family. ... The Algonquian languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). ...

Early History and Culture

Cheyenne maiden photographed by Eward S. Curtis in 1930.

Nothing is absolutely known about the Cheyenne people/culture prior to the 16th Century. Much of Cheyenne history study starts at the 16th century. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

The earliest known official record of the Cheyenne occurred during the mid-1600's. A group of Cheyenne had visited Fort Crevecoeur, near present-day Chicago. During the 1600/1700's, the Cheyenne moved from the Great Lakes region to present day Minnesota and North Dakota and established villages. The most prominent of these ancient villages is Biesterfeldt Village, in eastern North Dakota along the Sheyenne River. The Cheyenne also came into contact with the neighboring Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara nations and adopted many cultural characteristics of these peoples. In 1804, a Cheyenne village was visited by Lewis and Clark during their expedition through North Dakota. Pressure from migrating Lakota and Ojibwa nations was forcing the Cheyenne to move further west. By the mid 1800's, the Cheyenne had largely abandoned their sedentary/agricultural and pottery traditions and fully adopted the classic nomadic Plains culture. Tipis replaced earth lodges, and the main diet switched from fish/agricultural produce to mainly bison and wild fruits/vegetables. During this time, the Cheyenne also moved into Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota. The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes on or near the United States-Canadian border. ... Official language(s) None Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 12th 225,365 km² 400 km 645 km 8. ... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 19th 183 272 km² 340 km 545 km 2. ... The Sheyenne River is one of the major tributaries of the Red River of the North, beginning about 29 north of McClusky, North Dakota and meanders eastward before turning south near McVille, North Dakota. ... A Mandan man in a buffalo robe overlooking the Missouri River. ... Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, are a Native American group comprised of a union of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara peoples, whose native lands ranged across the Missouri River basin in the Dakotas. ... Arikara refers to a group of Native Americans that spoke a Caddoan language. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Lewis and Clark The Lewis and Clark expedition (1804–1806) was the first United States overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, of the US Army. ... The Lakota (IPA: ) (also Lakhota, Teton, Titonwon) are a Native American tribe. ... The Ojibwa, Aanishanabe or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway, Anishinaabe, or Anishinabek) are the largest group of Native Americans/First Nations north of Mexico, including Métis. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 10th 253,554 km² 450 km 580 km 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 8th 269 837 km² 451 km 612 km 0. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 17th 199,905 km² 340 km 610 km 1. ...

Cheyenne society organization has been of contentious discussions among anthropologists. By the time the Cheyenne fully adapted to the classic Plains culture, they had developed a bi-lateral band kinship system. However, other anthropologists note that the Cheyenne had a matrilineal band system. Studies into whether the Cheyenne ever developed a matrilineal clan system are still inconclusive.

The traditional Cheyenne government system is one of the prime examples of a politically unified North American indigenous nation. Most other nations were divided into bands, the main difference with the Cheyenne is the fact that the Cheyenne bands were politically unified. Most other bands of other nations had political autonomy. The central traditional government system of the Cheyenne is known as the "Council of Forty-four." The name denoted the number of seated chiefs on the council. Each band had 4 seated chief delegates, the remaining 4 chiefs were the principal advisors of the other delegates. This system also regulated the many societies that developed. These societies were responsible for warfare planning, policing/enforcing of laws/rules, and conduction of ceremonies. This governing system was developed by the time the Cheyenne reached the Great Plains.

19th Century/Indian Wars

In 1851, the first Cheyenne 'territory' was established in northern Colorado. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 granted this territory. Today this former territory includes the cities of Fort Collins, Denver and Colorado Springs. Not long after 1851, the Cheyenne had lost this land due to the influx of settlers due to the gold rush. 1851 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Horsetooth Rock, atop Horsetooth Mountain, is often used as a symbol of Fort Collins. ... Nickname: The Mile-High City Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Downtown Colorado Springs skyline. ... A California Gold Rush handbill A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold. ...

Dull Knife (Tah-me-la-pash-me), Chief of Northern Cheyennes at Battle of Little Bighorn

In the Indian Wars, the Cheyenne were the victims of the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, in which the Colorado Militia killed 600 Cheyenne. In the early morning on November 27, 1868 the Battle of Washita River started when United States Army Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry in an attack on a band of peaceful Cheyenne legally living on reservation land with Chief Black Kettle. 103 Cheyenne were killed, mostly women and children. Only after the Sand Creek Massacre and Battle of Washita River did the Cheyenne become hostile towards the influx of settlers. The Cheyenne had initially sought peaceful relations with the settlers/colonists. The Sand Creek Massacre was a pivotal role in the Indian Wars of the west, as news of the event spread, area tribes began to mount a strong offense to settlers/colonists. Image File history File links Dull Knife (Tah-me-la-pash-me), Chief of Northern Cheyennes at Battle of Little Bighorn; full-length, seated. ... Image File history File links Dull Knife (Tah-me-la-pash-me), Chief of Northern Cheyennes at Battle of Little Bighorn; full-length, seated. ... The Battle of the Little Bighorn, also called Custers Last Stand, was an engagement between a Lakota-Cheyenne combined force and the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army that took place on June 25, 1876 near the Little Bighorn River in the eastern Montana Territory. ... An 1899 chromolithograph of U.S. cavalry pursuing American Indians, artist unknown. ... Combatants United States of America Cheyenne Arapaho Commanders John M. Chivington Black Kettle Strength 700 500 Casualties 10 dead, 36 wounded 150 {{{notes}}} The Sand Creek Massacre (also known as the Chivington Massacre) was an infamous incident in the Indian Wars of the United States that occurred on November 29... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Battle of Washita occurred on November 27, 1868 when George Armstrong Custer’s 7th U.S. Cavalry attacked Black Kettle’s Cheyenne village on the Washita River (near present day Cheyenne, Oklahoma). ... The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... George Armstrong Custer George Armstrong Custer (December 5, 1839–June 25, 1876) was an United States Army cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. ... The 7th United States Cavalry Regiment is a United States Army cavalry unit, whose lineage traces back to the late 19th century. ... Chief Black Kettle Chief Black Kettle (died November, 26 1868) was a Cheyenne Native American. ...

The Northern Cheyenne also participated in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which took place on June 25, 1876. The Cheyenne, along with the Lakota and a small band of Arapaho, annihilated George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry contingent of Army soldiers. It is estimated that population of the encampment of the Cheyenne, Lakota and Arapaho along the Little Bighorn River was approximately 10,000, which would make it one of the largest gathering of Native Americans in North America in pre-reservation times. News of the event had traveled across the United States, and reached Washington DC just as the United States was celebrating its Centennial. This caused much anger towards the Cheyenne and Lakota. Pursuit of the Cheyenne and Lakota became an urgent action. Combatants Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho (4) United States Commanders Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse Lt. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Scabby Bull, Arapaho 1806 Arapaho camp, ca. ... Scabby Bull, Arapaho 1806 Arapaho camp, ca. ... The Little Bighorn River The Little Bighorn River is a tributary of the Bighorn River in the United States in the states of Wyoming and Montana. ...

Northern Cheyenne Exodus

[Note: the following history is about the Northern Cheyenne, the Southern Cheyenne by this time had largely settled in Indian Territory in Oklahoma.]

Following the Battle of the Little Bighorn, attempts by the U.S. Army to capture the Cheyenne intensified. A group of 972 Cheyenne were escorted to Indian Territory in Oklahoma in 1877. The government intended to re-unite both the Northern and Southern Cheyenne into one nation. There the conditions were dire; the Northern Cheyenne were not used to the climate and soon many became ill with malaria. In 1878, the two principal Chiefs, Little Wolf and Morning Star (Dull Knife) pressed for the release of the Cheyenne so they could travel back north. Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Territory in 1891 Indian Territory, also known as Indian Country, Indian territory or the Indian territories, was the land set aside within the United States for the use of American Indians (Native Americans). The general borders were set by the Indian Intercourse Act of 1834. ... Red blood cell infected with Malaria, derived from mala aria (Italian for bad air) and formerly called ague or marsh fever in English, is an infectious disease which causes about 350-500 million infections with humans and approximately 1. ... Little Wolf circa 1904 Little Wolf (c. ... Chief Dull Knife was a great chief to the Cheyenne people during the 19th century. ...

That same year a group of an estimated 1,000,000

 Cheyenne left Indian Territory to travel back north. This group was led by Chiefs Little Wolf and Morning Star. The Army and other civilian volunteers were in hot pursuit of the Cheyenne as they traveled north. It is estimated that a total of 13,000 Army soldiers and volunteers were sent to pursue the Cheyenne. 

Stump Horn and family (Southern Cheyenne); showing home and horsedrawn travois.

After reaching present-day eastern Kansas, the group split into two. One group was led by Little Wolf, and the other by Morning Star. Little Wolf and his band made it back to Montana. Morning Star and his band were captured and escorted to Fort Robinson, Nebraska. There Morning Star and his band were sequestered. They were ordered to return to Oklahoma but they refused. Conditions at the fort grew tense through the end of 1878 and soon the Cheyenne were confined to barracks with no food, water or heat. In January of 1879, Morning Star and his group broke out of Ft. Robinson. Most of the group was gunned down as they ran away from the fort. It is estimated that only 50 survived the breakout to reunite with the other Northern Cheyenne in Montana. The remains of those killed were repatriated in 1994. Little Wolf circa 1904 Little Wolf (c. ... Image File history File links Cheyenne_using_travois. ... Image File history File links Cheyenne_using_travois. ... Little Wolf circa 1904 Little Wolf (c. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 4th 381,156 km² 410 km 1,015 km 1 44°26 N to 49° N 104°2 W to 116°2 W Population  - Total (2000)  - Density Ranked 44th 902,195 2. ... Fort Robinson is a former U. S. Army post and a present-day state park in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 16th 200,520 km² 340 km 690 km 0. ...

Northern Cheyenne Return

The Cheyenne traveled to Fort Keogh (present day Miles City, Montana) and settled near the fort. Many of the Cheyenne worked with the Army as scouts. The Cheyenne scouts were pivotal in helping the Army find Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Percé in northern Montana. Fort Keogh became the staging and gathering point for the Northern Cheyenne. Many families began to migrate south to the Tongue River watershed area and established homesteads. Seeing a need for a reservation, the United States government established, by executive order, a reservation in 1884. The Cheyenne would finally have a permanent home in the north. The reservation was expanded in 1890, the current western border is the Crow Indian Reservation, and the eastern border is the Tongue River. The Cheyenne, along with the Lakota and Apache nations, were the last nations to be subdued and placed on reservations (the Seminole tribe of Florida was never subdued.). Miles City is a city located in Custer County, Montana. ... Chief Joseph Chief Joseph (1840–September 21, 1904) was a leader of the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, noted as a humanitarian and peacemaker for principled resistance to the U.S. federal governments attempts to force the Nez Perce onto an Indian reservation. ... Nez Percé warrior on horse, 1910 The Nez Percé or Nez Perce (pronounced as in French, or ) are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United States at the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. ... The Tongue River may refer to: The Tongue River, a tributary of the Red River of the North in North Dakota in the United States. ... The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, and now residing in that state and in Oklahoma. ...

Through determination and sacrifice, the Northern Cheyenne had earned their right to remain in the north near the Black Hills. The Cheyenne also had managed to retain their culture, religion and language intact. Today, the Northern Cheyenne Nation is one of the few American Indian nations to have control over the majority of its land base, currently at 98%. This article is about the place in South Dakota. ...

Over the past four hundred years, the Cheyenne have gone through four stages of culture. First they lived in the Eastern Woodlands and were a sedentary/agricultural people, planting corn, and beans. Next they lived in present day Minnesota/South Dakota and continued their farming tradition and also started hunting the bison of the Great Plains. During the third stage the Cheyenne abandoned their sedentary/farming lifestyle and became a full-fledged Plains horse culture tribe. The fourth stage is the reservation phase. Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ... Beans make your ass stink ... Official language(s) None Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 12th 225,365 km² 400 km 645 km 8. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 17th 199,905 km² 340 km 610 km 1. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ... Species B. bison B. bonasus B. priscus A North American bison Bison is a taxonomic genus containing six species of large even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. ... The Great Plains is the broad expanse of prairie which lies east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States of America and Canada, covering all or parts of the U.S. states of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota and the... The term Horse culture is used to define a tribal group or community whose day to day life revolves around the herding and breeding of horses. ...

Cheyenne Indian encampment, 1909

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (936x181, 20 KB) Description Cheyenne Indian encampment, 1909 Source www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (936x181, 20 KB) Description Cheyenne Indian encampment, 1909 Source www. ...

Notable Cheyennes

• Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Northern Cheyenne, Former Senator, State of Colorado, United States Congress

• W. Richard West Jr., Southern Cheyenne, Founding Director, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

• Susan Shown Harjo, Southern Cheyenne/Muscogee (Creek), Founding Trustee, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; President, Morning Star Institute (A Native rights advocacy organization based in Washington DC).

• Chris Eyre, Southern Cheyenne/Southern Arapaho, Movie Director, notable film: "Smoke Signals."

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born April 13, 1933) is an American politician. ...

Books

Two books about the Cheyenne are Cheyenne Memories (ISBN 0300073003) by John Stands in Timber, and Marie Sandoz's famous Cheyenne Autumn (ISBN 0803292120). Another brief history can be found in Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Dee Brown (February 29, 1908---December 12, 2002) was an American novelist and historian. ... Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, first published in 1970, is a history of Native Americans in the American West in the late nineteenth century, and their displacement and slaughter by the United States. ...

References

• Cheyenne Wikipedia
• Cheyenne language materials
• NATHPO-NEWS

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